Brian Irvine (footballer)

Brian Irvine (born 24 May 1965 in Bellshill, Scotland) is a former international footballer who played as a central defender for Falkirk, Aberdeen, Dundee, Ross County and managed Elgin City. He was capped nine times by Scotland.[2][3]

Brian Irvine
Personal information
Full name Brian Irvine
Date of birth (1965-05-24) 24 May 1965
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1]
Playing position(s) Central defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1985 Falkirk 38 (0)
1985–1997 Aberdeen 306 (28)
1997–1999 Dundee 69 (4)
1999–2003 Ross County 120 (13)
Total 533 (45)
National team
1990–1994 Scotland 9 (0)
Teams managed
2006 Elgin City
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

After working in a bank on leaving school,[3] Irvine began his professional career with Falkirk in 1983, aged 18.[4] During his spell with the Bairns, he became an evangelical Christian.[4][2][3]

After two years and nearly forty league appearances at Brockville, Irvine moved to Aberdeen, the team he had supported as a child,[3] for a fee of £110,000.[3] During twelve years with the Dons, Irvine made over 350 appearances in all competitions, gradually becoming a regular in the defence alongside Alex McLeish as veteran captain Willie Miller's career came to an end.[2] [1]

Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup in 1990, with Irvine scoring the winning penalty in a 9–8 shootout win against Celtic in the final,[4][2][3][5] having also scored in the quarter-final and semi-final.[6][2] He had already come on as a substitute in the League Cup final victory in the same season,[2] and played a part in two other finals[7] and five runners-up finishes in the Scottish Premier Division[8] (losing out to Rangers on every occasion), as well as helping the club avoid what would have been a first-ever relegation via a play-off in 1995.[9] He took over in goals in emergencies (if the goalkeeper was injured or sent off) on several occasions, saving a penalty in a match against Hibernian in 1991.[1][10]

In June 1995 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis,[2][3] returning to action four months after the diagnosis.[4] Irvine left Pittodrie in 1997 (following a testimonial match against Wimbledon)[11] and moved to Dundee, featuring nearly 70 times in two years. In 1999, Irvine moved to Ross County, where he finished his playing career in 2003.[3]

Coaching career / later work

After retiring, Irvine stayed with County as a coach, taking his first managerial job in January 2006 with Elgin City.[12] In December that year, with the club bottom of the table, Irvine left the club.[13][2] In March 2009, Irvine was named assistant manager to Martin Rennie of USL First Division side Carolina RailHawks FC. He was previously Rennie's assistant at USL-2 side Cleveland City Stars.[2]

He has been involved in charity work,[2][3] and in 2017 became a police officer.[6]

Honours

Aberdeen[1]

See also

References
  1. "Brian Irvine". AFC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. Andrew Smith (1 December 2003). "Brian Irvine on past glories and Aberdeen revival". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  3. "Brian Irvine - Footballer". Evengelical Alliance. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  4. "Brian Irvine's Story". Christians Together in the Highlands and Islands. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  5. Don Morrison (13 May 1990). "Cheers and tears". Sunday Mail. The Celtic Wiki. Retrieved 27 October 2018 – via The Celtic Wiki.
  6. Charlie Allan (21 April 2017). "Aberdeen hero-turned-policeman Brian Irvine believes Dons can lock up the cup this year". Evening Express. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  7. "Football: Hateley cleans up for Rangers". The Independent. 29 May 1993. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  8. "Flashback: 1991, Mark Walters and Scott Booth recall their part in Smith's maiden final-day triumph". The Herald. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. David McKinney (26 May 1995). "Aberdeen find form to preserve Premier status". The Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  10. "Snelders hits a bad note". The Herald. 25 November 1991. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. "Match Report: Aberdeen 1 - 2 Wimbledon". AFC Heritage Trust. 26 March 1997. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  12. "Irvine takes over as Elgin boss". BBC News. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  13. "Irvine set to step down at Elgin". BBC News. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
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